Philadelphia Union: Preseason game shows lineup changes needed

Change was the name of the game for the Philadelphia Union in the offseason. As a result, adjustment may be the theme in the preseason.

The Union were held to a 1-1 draw by USL Pro side Orlando City Saturday at the Walt Disney World Pro Soccer Classic, needing a late goal from rookie Leo Fernandes to salvage a point.

Orlando, regular-season champion of USL Pro last year and de facto host of the tournament, went ahead in the 54th minute after Dennis Chin pounced on a bad exchange between goalkeeper Zac MacMath and midfielder Brian Carroll. Chin dispossessed Carroll, who was put in a precarious position by MacMath’s pass, and rolled one past MacMath when he came out to challenge.

It wasn’t until manager John Hackworth went to the substitutes’ bench for wholesale changes that the Union showed signs of life. Fernandes, a Supplemental Draft pick this year out of Stony Brook, was the beneficiary. Fellow sub Roger Torres, who just minutes earlier had nearly beaten Orlando goalkeeper Miguel Gallardo with a swerving drive from distance, chipped a lofted pass into the direction of the midfielder. Fernandes did well to control with his head, settle it and lash one with his left foot from the edge of the six-yard box and by Gallardo.

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While the substitutes looked lively — including Antoine Hoppenot nearly setting Jack McInerney up for a winner in the 78th minute that the latter somehow managed to miss the goal with — the starters looked listless to say the least. The starting defense pairing of Jeff Parke and Amobi Okugo was under regular pressure and was nearly pried open on several occasions, including a pair of penalty shouts where Orlando easily could’ve been granted a spot kick.

Offensively, Conor Casey and Sebastien Le Toux struggled to click as the forwards in a 4-4-2 look. The best chance for the Union came in the 51st minute when midfielder Danny Cruz launched a drive from distance that beat Gallardo to rattle the woodwork.

It’s the third consecutive preseason in which the Union have failed to defeat Orlando City, losing once and drawing twice. The Union continue the tournament at Disney’s Wide World of Sports Wednesday at 3 p.m. when they tangle with Toronto FC.